Michael Whalen Movies
A former manager for Woolworths, Michael Whalen performed as a radio and vaudeville singer before entering films in 1935. For many years, Whalen was an all-purpose leading man at 20th Century Fox; perhaps his best assignment during this period was Coppy, the nominal romantic lead in John Ford's Wee Willie Winkie (1937). By the 1940s, Whalen had settled into character parts, mostly at Columbia. He was last seen onscreen in an uncredited role as a minister in Elmer Gantry (1960). Michael Whalen was the brother of New York's official "greeter" Grover Whalen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1936
This musical is adapted from a popular Broadway show written by George M. Cohan. It tells the tale of a team of Broadway dancers. The male partner is a real carouser, yet he is protective of his partner who is madly in love with another. Later she and her lover encounter difficulties, and their show is endangered. To save them all, the partner forsakes his wild ways. Success ensues, the show is saved; the two lovers also get to marry. Songs include: "You're My Favorite One," "On Holiday in My Playroom," "Join the Party," "Let's Get Going," "Ain't He Good Looking?" and "Dancing in the Open." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claire Trevor, Paul Kelly, (more)
- 1936
The well-publicized (and overexploited) birth of Canada's Dionne Quintuplets in 1934 formed the basis of The Country Doctor. Jean Hersholt starred as Dr. Allan Dafoe, the real-life medico who delivered the famous quints (who appear in person towards the end of the film). The film recounts Dafoe's difficulties in ministering to the somewhat backward residents of his tiny Canadian community, and his battle with a local bigwig who wants to bring in a "modern" doctor. The Dionne births transform Dafoe into a local hero, leading to his winning of the Order of the British Empire. In real life, Dr. Dafoe effectively wrested custody of the Dionne quints away from the parents, then cashed in on the subsequent merchandising; later on, public opinion would turn against Dafoe, defiling him as an opportunistic cad. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Hersholt, June Lang, (more)
- 1936
- NR
A remake of the 1917 Mary Pickford vehicle of the same name, Poor Little Rich Girl stars Shirley Temple in the title role. Neglected by her widowed soap-tycoon father (Michael Whalen), lonely Barbara Barry (Temple) spends most of her time in the company of her nursemaid Collins (Sara Haden). While on a shopping excursion in the City, Collins is killed in a traffic accident, and Barbara gets lost in the crowd. She finds shelter in the warm and loving tenement home of barber Tony (Henry Armetta), where she makes the acquaintance of vaudeville entertainers Jerry and Jimmy Dolan (Alice Faye and Jack Haley). Assuming that the girl is an orphan, the Dolans invite her to join their act when they discover that she possesses considerable singing and dancing talents. As fate would have it, Jerry, Jimmy and Barbara audition for a radio program which happens to be sponsored by Barbara's dad! For all its music, charm and vivacity, Poor Little Rich Girl has an unsettling inner lining of cruelty: Not only is the plot motivated by the death of Shirley's governess, but our poor heroine spends a good portion of the film avoiding a seedy would-be child molester (John Wray)! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shirley Temple, Alice Faye, (more)
- 1936
Admidst a sea of melodramatic and unbelievable courtroom dramas, Career Woman is distinguished by its comparative realism. Law school graduate Carroll Aiken (Claire Trevor) is idealistic; her colleague Barry Conant (Michael Whalen) is cynical and mercenary. Despite their ethical differences, they team up to defend downtrodden Gracie Clay (Isabel Jewell) on a charge of murdering her sadistic father. The grandstanding Conant reprimands the jury for their prejudices against the poor, but this strategy fails miserably. Carroll is forced to apologize to the court, then goes on to win the case through the simple expedient of sticking to the facts. Career Woman well be the best "lady lawyer" film of the 1930s, with characters acting like human beings instead of Hollywood stereotypes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claire Trevor, Michael Whalen, (more)
- 1936
Adventurer-for-hire Victor McLaglen is hired by a political faction in a mythical European kingdom. McLaglen's job is to kidnap the young prince (Freddie Bartholomew) so that his employers can take over the government. The prince enjoys the experience because it releases him from the confines of protocol. When the prince is reluctantly rescued, McLaglen is thrown in prison. He escapes upon the realization that the political party he'd been working for actually plans to kill the prince and set up a dictatorship. McLaglen rescues the prince and preserves the Status Quo--and his blossoming friendship with the affable young monarch. Curiously enough, Professional Soldier is based on a story by Damon Runyon, taking a break from his "Guys and Dolls" chronicles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victor McLaglen, Freddie Bartholomew, (more)
- 1936
Based on Jack London's famous story of the same name, White Fang was first filmed in 1925. It is set in the Gold Rush era in Alaska and the Yukon. Sylvia Burgess (Jean Muir) is traveling with her brother Hal (Thomas Beck) to a gold mine that they have inherited from their father. Their guide is Weedon Scott (Michael Whalen), who owns the tracking dog, White Fang. Along the arduous journey, Hal dies. Beauty Smith (John Carradine), the leader of a criminal gang, claims that Scott murdered Hal. His men try to take possession of the mine, but they are thwarted by White Fang. Eventually, Hal's diary reveals that he killed himself in despair, and Smith's plans are foiled. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Whalen, Jean Muir, (more)
